Wrong interpretation of freedom in the world today gives rise to massive devil obsession, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia believes. "People subdue their minds to dangerous and sinful ideas, don't they? Today many ideologies use God-granted freedom to turn man into animal, to liberate sinful, instinctive human sources with reference to freedom," the Patriarch said at his Sunday sermon in Christ the Savior Cathedral.

Orthodox vespers was conducted last week in Notre Dame de Paris following the tradition of Lent. Over 500 pilgrims from various cities of France and neighboring European countries venerated the Savior's crown of thorns. Rector of the Three Holy Hierarchs Church Hegumen Nestor (Sirotenko) conducted the vespers, the Korsun Diocese website has reported.

Bulgarian Orthodox Church and its leadership have always been legitimate, Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev told journalists Monday, emerging from a meeting with Patriarch Maxim. Stanishev specified he had requested the meeting to discuss yet again the situation involving a judgment of the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg. He said he regarded the judgment with great concern because it was important and all ways and instruments should be found to defend the authority and unity of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church.

Reconstruction work has begun at the Hungarian Orthodox Cathedral on Petőfi tér. The church's southern spire, which was destroyed in the last days of the Second World War, will be rebuilt in the project.

"Attempts were made in the ‘70s to rebuild the spire," said István Magyar, protoierej (priest) of the Budapest Hungarian Orthodox congregation. At that time there were insufficient funds for the whole spire, allowing only an additional level to be added. A second effort failed in 2000. Then in 2003 Bishop Hilarion became Bishop of Vienna and Austria, and administrator of the Hungarian Orthodox diocese, which had been established shortly before. He immediately pressed for the spire to be reconstructed. According to Magyar, sufficient money has recently become available thanks to foreign benefactors.